Loose-leaf binder



April 10, 1934. J. SCHADE 1,954,265

LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed May 26, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. 1.

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r p M 90 Q 11* Z 5 1 D: 9| l9 IN VENT OR JaH/v Sch/ADE April 10, 1934. CHAD 1,954,265

LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed May 26, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ail-2:

INVENTOR JOHN 561M DE A TTORNE YS Patented Apr. l0,

UNITED STATES LOOSE-LEAF BINDER John Schade, Holyoke, Mass,

assignor to National Blank Book Company, Holyoke, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application May 26, 1932, Serial No. 613,625

14 Claims.

This invention relates to a loose leaf binder or book. One feature of the invention is to provide improved means for removably fastening a transfer bar to the loose leaf structure so that the latter will be easier to manufacture and the transfer bar will be easier to manipulate than prior art structures. Another feature of the invention is to provide a combination of book binding case (comprising covers and back) and loose leaf structure (comprising the metal parts to hold the sheets) that will more satisfactorily simulate the appearance of a permanently bound book and .more nearly approach the simplicity of a permanently bound book than prior art loose leaf structures do. Other features of invention in the mechanical details of construction and arrangement will appear from the claims based on the following description and accompanying drawings.

In the drawings- Fig. l is an end view of a structure such as is commonly used in a permanently bound book, comprising a binding casein open position to which the metallic parts of my loose leaf structure are preferably fastened;

Fig. 2 is the frame of the loose leaf structure;

Fig. 3 is the transfer bar forming a part of the .loose leaf structure;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an end View as the parts will appear when those elements shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 are assembled and combined with a book filler of loose sheets;

Fig. 6 is a top View of one of the slot forming end pieces of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6a is a section on line aa of Fig. 6;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on line '77 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail view;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken through the binder where (as at 9-9 in Fig. 2) the position of the transfer bar of Fig. 3 and its means of attachment to the frame of Fig. 2 is best seen in the assembled structure; and

Fig. 10 is a plan View of the open binder without filling sheets and with parts of the covers cut away.

To practice my invention, in its preferred form I proceed as follows: A permanently bound, book binding case, as in Fig. 1, consisting of a stiff and curved back 1 and hinged covers 2 and 3 are taken for the outside of the binder and pref erably in the same form as such parts would be used for a permanently bound book. To the back of this case the frame of Fig. 2 is permanently fastened in'the position best shown in Figs. 9 and 10. The frame has curved end portions 4 and 5 to extend across the back of the book forming transverse end slots as in Fig. 6a. These are curved ends planned to receive the horizontal plate 6 of the transfer bar by cramping the parts for assembly, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. The loose sheets are assembled on posts '7 and manipulated for removal and change by carrying them in and out of assembled position in the binder as desired on the transfer bar 6. The latter is readily removable.

The frame part 8 of Fig. 2 can be made from. an integral piece of sheet metal bent to form. For manufacturing reasons it is preferable to make the strip 8 in skeletonized strip or angle form and fasten the end portions 4 and 5 to the part 8. The strip 8 is made with an angular section, one partfor attachment to the back by tongues 9 (Fig. 10), which may be anchored and hidden in the back 1 but project from the inside so as to pass through slots 10 (Fig. 2) and be bent down for a substantially permanent attachment of the frame to the back. The vertical part of frame 8 is for carrying posts 7. The metal is made thinner than is ordinarily desirable or suitable for making good attachment for posts 7. It is thinner because it is highly desirable to have this vertical part, which lies between the loose leaves and the book cover, permit the leaves of the book to lie as close to the cover as practical and as nearly as can be done in the desire to simulate a permanently bound book.

I have been able to make this vertical strip, thinner than wouldv otherwise be practical by changing the character of the attachment contact with posts 7. I upset the inner ends of the latter as in making a flat nail head, preferably tapering the inner surface of the head toward the edges. The outer surface is fiat. With this widened contact surface I spot weld the head to the frame, preferably at the flanged portion of the head and at points Wider apart than the diameter of the post '7. This insures good contact for the head and the leverage resistance of the head, in overcoming tipping forces on the post 7, is greatly increased over what it would be if the end of the post were not enlarged, as it is not in ordinary construction. This arrangement is not for the mere purpose of making an improved attachment of the post to the frame but to make the vertical flange of frame 8 of very thin stock for my particular kind of binder, which the improved attachment permits.

At each end of the frame there is a slot-forming means formed by the end portions 4 and 5,

curved slot walls. curved walls on the straight plate 6 is such as to shown in Fig. 9. The construction of this element of the frame is best shown in Figs. 6 and 6a. It is preferably made in a form, curved longitudinally and of J shape in cross-section, out of sheet metal. The long leg is curved longitudinally and lies against the inner curvature of the binder back and the shorter leg lies spaced from the other leg and preferably with a curvature that is not concentric but struck from a more remote center. This results in the slot being deeper at its central portion than at its ends. It results in a flatter curve on the inner faces of portions 4 and 5, approximating what the curvature of the bottom edges of the loose sheets need to take in transverse section for the desired position in the binder when closed. The portions 4 and 5 form a slot closed at one end by receiving the ends of the angular section or strip 8. The registering slots 10 are each located to receive a tongue 9 to fasten these parts together and to the binder back.

The slots 10 in frame strip 8 intermediate the ends are formed in slightly depressed portions 11. The latter compensate for the underlying portions of 4 and 5 at the ends and permit the frame part 8 at the left in Fig. 10 to lie uniformly along its length on the binder back 1 and avoid any difference of level between the ends and center. The outer ends of parts 4 and 5 are attached to the back 1 by slots and tongue 9, as indicated in Fig. 10.

The transfer bar 6 is best shown in plan at Fig. 3 and in cross-section at Fig. 9, the latter showing the manner of assembly with the slot forming frame portions 4 and 5. It is shown in separate cross-section at Fig. '7. The vertical plate 16 is arranged to make an angle slightly larger than a right angle with the horizontal plate 6 so that when the transfer bar is assembled in its slot as in Fig. 9 plate 16 will be ver tical and parallel with the opposite post-carrying plate of frame 8. By considering Fig. 9 it will be seen why this arrangement is desirable.

The plate 6 is inserted in the slot formed by end pieces 4 and 5. The forward end 21 is preferably bent up slightly so it will slide, without a tendency for the sharp corner to scrape, on the bottom of the pieces 4 and 5. The curved parts 4 and 5 are so proportioned that straight plate 6 will enter easily for an appreciable distance but not for the whole distance of insertion. The end 21 will contact on the bottom wall and the top side of plate 6 will contact on the top wall of the slot before complete insertion. Then to get the transfer bar in the whole distance it is necessary "to push on plate 16 to overcome the resistance of the cramping action. In such action the straight plate 6 has a bearing at 21 spaced from another bearing at about 22 on the opposite faces of the And the bearing of these cramp the latter with a bending movement as it is pushed further into the slot. To get complete insertion there must be a yielding of the parts.

The resistance to such yielding in the cramping action is sufiicient to require a definite and hard push on plate 6 to insert it in the slot. When completely inserted, as shown in Fig. 9, the parts are held in position by the bearings 21, 22, and 23,

where the cramping action of insertion has pinched the parts into good contact tending to will not be accidentally displaced. Its flat plate 6 is arranged in slanting engagement with the slot which turns plate 16 from the position shown in Fig. 7 to that shown in Fig. 9 where it is vertical and exactly parallel with its companion postcarrying plate on the opposite side and with the book covers when closed. The posts on the transfer bar are attached by means of flattened heads, the same as the oppositely extending posts. The plate 16 can thus be made thinner than would otherwise be practical.

When a complete filler of loose sheets is put in the binder described, it will appear as in Fig. 5. To a remarkable extent this appearance is like a permanently bound book. Between the covers and the leaves there is a very thin, narrow strip on each side, as 8 and 16, that is so unobtrusive as to escape casual notice. The ends of the loose leaf structure appear as the curved closed ends of portions 4 and 5. It is preferable in shaping the top and bottom curves of portions 4 and 5 (see Fig. 5) to have the bottom curve correspond exactly to the inner curve of back portion 1 so as to make a good joint. But the upper curves of these portions 4 and 5 are preferably made nearly flat but yet having enough curvature to give a curved appearance to the eye. The idea is that loose leaf structure (of the general kind indicated) is ordinarily made with a flat plate or support under the sheets on the posts. If curved to any substantial extent the loose sheets will not turn easily on L the posts as a binder. My curvature of the supporting surface is enough to give the appearance of a curve at the end of the loose leaf structure, but the curvature is not enough to interfere with the turning of the loose sheets when held in the binder on the posts. Such curvature permits the series arrangement of the bottom edges of the sheets, when looked at from the ends of the books, to have a transverse curvature. Such curvature is characteristic of permanently bound books on the line where the sheets disappear into the bound back of the book. It is this effect in appearance of a loose leaf book that I am providing for in detail structure described. The binding posts 7 (see Fig. 9) are curved just enough to contribute to the effect and yet be flat enough to allow the opening of the book at any desired point and in a Way such that the leaves will lie over against the covers without hiding much more of the bound margin than in permanently bound books. In the latter there frequently appears a beaded cloth edge between the cover and the bottom edges of the leaves at the end. The eye is accustomed to such a beaded edge. For this reason I have shown such a beaded edge atSl' in Fig. 8. It is fastened along the line indicated at 30 in Fig. 5. It is of cloth and covers a material part of the metal end 5 of the loose leaf structure. In making the binder with this addition I have found that it adds a good finishing touch to the binder construction when arranged as I have described to simulate a permanently bound book.

Referring to Fig. 9, the shoulder 31 on the cover 3 serves as a means to hold the transfer bar 6 from slipping out of the loose leaf structure when the book is in use. This shoulder 31 is positioned to be in line with the transfer bar when the book is opened into reference position (which is the position of Fig. 1 for both covers and back). Therefore, even without any cramping action between the plate 6 and the slots in frame portions 4 and 5, the transfer bar is held in assembled position substantially as shown in Fig. 9. In this position it would do no particular harm if the transfer bar were loose enough in the slots to easily move out to the shoulder 31 where it wouldv be stopped. When the book cover is closed the transfer bar would be pushed back into the position shown. The hinge line of the cover is best shown at 32 in Fig. 8 and it is obvious that by turning cover 3 (of Fig. 9) further down or back, shoulder 31 would be carried out of line with the transfer bar (as shown in dotted lines of Fig. 9) so that the latter could be easily taken out of the slots or inserted when desired. This shoulder 31 on cover 3 serves as an independent means for removably holding the transfer bar in assembled position, as in Fig. 9. It may be used alone for the purpose if it is not desired for any reason to cramp plate 6 in the slot for the holding function. But I prefer to cramp the bar in place.

A particular use for which my improved binder is designed is that of holding a complete filler of sheets and permitting substitutions of sheets from time to time to keep the contents up to date. The substitutions are not so frequent as to make the idea of the book as a loose leaf binder dominate. On the contrary, so far as possible the appearance and use of the book like a perma nently bound book should be the dominating idea. For this reason all obtrusively mechanical features in the book should be eliminated as far as possible and apparent means to hold the parts together such as spring latches and the like are particularly objectionable.

My improved binder is removably assembled by cramping the parts together by the provision of an exceedingly simple structure and a minimum number of elements of small bulk. The frame 8 could readily be made of a single stamping of sheet metal bent to form; the transfer bar is so made. These two elements formed as shown and the posts are all that are necessary to give all the features desired in the loose leaf structure. The transfer bar can be separated by pushing up on cars 25 at the ends of plate 16. To do this it is desirable to brace the hands with the forefingers on the book and push up the ears 25 with the thumbs. The assembly and the separation steps for the binder are simple and fast operating ones; as well as convenient.

Having described my improvements in their preferred form, I claim as my invention:

1. The combination in a metallic loose leaf frame structure a horizontal frame member, a

vertical plate or bar along one edge of said member to support sheet carrying posts, means on the frame member to form a curved slot with upper and lower Walls extending toward the other edge of the frame and open at the latter edge, a transfer bar having a horizontal plate to enter said slot and a vertical plate to support sheet carrying posts, said curved slot being formed, with relation to said horizontal plate, so as to provide first, a loose fit as the plate is inserted part way into the curved slot to a point where the front edge of the plate contacts with the bottom wall of the slot and the top surface of the plate contacts the top wall of the slot nearer the entrance and to provide finally, a bending resistance from such contacts as the plate is pushed the rest of the way into the slot.

2. The combination of claim 1 and sheet carrying posts on the frame bar and transfer bar curved to correspond generally to the curves of the slot in the frame but on a slightly larger radius.

3. The combination of claim 1 and a book binding case comprising permanently bound covers and back, the frame of the loose leaf structure being permanently bound to the back with its edges located closely adjacent one hinge line of one cover and said back being curved to correspond generally to the curves of the slot in the frame but on a slightly shorter radius.

4. The combination of claim 1 and a slightly upturned front edge on the transfer bar to avoid a line contact with the bottom wall of the slot.

5. The combination of claim 1 and having the vertical plates of the frame bar and transfer bar of thin stock, and sheet carrying posts each having a thin enlarged flat end or head formed by upsetting the post, each head being attached to its thin plate by welding at spots substantially further apart than the diameter of the post.

6. The combination of claim 1 in which the transfer bar is made up from a single bent sheet having its vertical plate extending upwardly from its horizontal plate at enough more than a right angle as will compensate for the tipping clownwardly of the horizontal plate in entering the slot of the frame and so that the post-carrying plates may occupy parallel vertical positions when the parts are assembled.

'7. In a loose. leaf binder the combination of a book binding case comprising permanently bound covers hinged to a curved back, a skeleton metallic frame for a loose leaf structure, said frame comprising a thin strip bent transversely at right angles and attached to the back along one side of the angle strip, leaving a free side of the said strip with its bend close to the hinge line of one cover, curved end pieces U-shaped in crosssection attached to the back with the legs extending a short distance inwardly and together forming a narrow transversely arranged curved slot with an open end or entrance to the slot positioned close to the hinge line of the other cover, a transfer bar having portions adapted to lie in said slot and when in the slot having a thin side positioned to extend parallel to the free side of the angle strip first mentioned, sheet carrying posts on said parallel sides, said transfer bar being adapted by its form to enter said curved slot easily for part of the distance and by reason of resistance due to difference in curvature to enter the remaining distance only under sufficient pressure to bind the parts by cramping against accidental displacement in the use of the binder.

8. The combination of claim '7 and ears on the transfer bar extending slightly beyond the ends of the slot for finger pressure to remove the transfer bar.

9. A loose leaf binder including loose leaf structure arranged to closely simulate a permanently bound book and comprising a book binding case having covers permanently bound to a curved back, a frame with a post-carrying flange extending along the back adjacent the hinge line of one cover, a shallow curved slot-forming member at each end of the frame, U-shaped in crosssection with the closed side adjacent the end of the back and extending from one hinge line to the other, an angle plate transfer bar adapted to slide in said slot and position its post-carrying flange parallel to the first-mentioned flange, posts on said flanges being curved generally like the slot forming members and the back of the book, said posts, members, and book back having curvatures that respectively increase slightly in each successive member toward the outer curvature of the book back, said post-carrying flanges being narrow and thin and their ends forming when the binder is closed and filled with leaves the only parts of the loose leaf structure exposed except members.

10. The combination of claim 9 and a decorative book binding beading inserted just inside the end edges of the curved book back to hide a portion of the slot forming members along their outer edges.

11. A binder consisting of book covers and a back support and a loose leaf structure secured to the back support, said structure being made up of a part fastened to the back support and having posts for the sheets and curved means extending across the back from edge to edge to form a curved slot, a removable transfer bar also having posts for the sheets and a thin straight plate member to enter said slot and engage the curved top and bottom Walls thereof only at spaced and narrow surface contacts before the transfer bar has entered as far as it can into the slot, whereby when the transfer bar is pushed as far as it can be into the slot it will cramp against the walls thereof and be held against accidental removal by the cramping of the parts.

12. A binder consisting of side covers and a back, a loose leaf structure secured to the back, sheet retaining prongs secured to one side of said structure, means at each end of said structure forming a curved slot, a movable angular transfer bar having prongs attached to one angle side, the other angle side being adapted to enter the curved slot and means for retaining the transfer bar in said slot against accidental displacement.

'13. A binder consisting of side covers and a back, a loose leaf structure secured to the back, sheet retaining prongs secured to one side of said structure, means at each end of said structure forming a curved slot, a movable angular transfer bar having prongs attached to one angle side, the other angle side being adapted to enter the curved slot and means on the cover adjacent the transfer bar and positioned for engagement by the latter whereby said transfer bar cannot be displaced from said slot when the book is lying on its back with the covers open.

14. A loose leaf binder consisting of side covers and a curved back support, a loose leaf structure secured to said support having posts fastened adjacent one side edge thereof for receiving sheets and also having curved slot forming means extending transversely of the curved back support, a separable transfer bar having posts attached thereto and also a substantially straight plate underlying the posts which is arranged to engage the curved slot formed by the loose leaf structure, said slot being curved for receiving the said plate and cramping it into engagement with the inner walls of the slot when the parts are pushed together for assembly, said loose leaf structure and transfer bar being arranged for assembly and disassembly by simply pushing and pulling the parts together.

JOHN SCHADE. 

